I don't own Star Trek. I wish I did.

Hugh has been a godsend

No, I'm not saying that because I'm drunk or on drugs. My job has literally never been easier. He's meticulous and organized, efficient and responsible, areas in which I am a bit lacking. Just this morning, I planned to finally organize all the files I had laying around my office, only to come in and find that Hugh had already done it. He even had a cup of steaming Earl Grey waiting for me on the desk.

"Is something wrong, Captain?" Hugh looked at me and I realized I was standing there with my jaw dropped.

"Ah...no. No, I just...didn't expect everything to be done already." I took a sip of the tea. Perfect. How on earth did he do it?

"I was up early, so I thought I would start my work early."

"That's called taking initiative, Hugh. Keep doing it."

"Yes sir."

(a few days later)

That Lwaxana witch has returned to pester us again. She's preying me again. Already, I have attend a dinner to which she claims she invited all the officers. I highly doubt this is the truth, but at any rate, everyone else is in hiding. Everyone except Hugh. Poor, ignorant Hugh. I had no choice but to ask that he accompany me, and I felt sorry for him.

"Just don't leave my side for any reason, not even for a second." I told him as we approached her quarters.

"Yes, Captain." he said, straightening his dress uniform again. Now that I saw it on someone else, I realized how stupid these "dress" uniforms looked as the door opened to let us in.

Lwaxana was in a long black gown with a VERY low neckline. She stood up smirking and stuck her chest out at me...only to hastily cover herself when she saw Hugh, who looked as though he'd rather be anywhere else.

"I didn't invite any of the others." Lwaxana said.

"I know. This is my assistant, Hugh

"Assistant?" She scoffed, "Jean-Luc, he has the mind of a baby! Not a single one of the naughty thoughts I usually see in men." Hugh's face went red.

Oh dear God, not again!, I thought, He's standing right here, for God's sake!

"He's a Borg." I said, "They don't give a damn about such things."

"Pity." she said, "This one's a cutie. Aren't you, sweetie."

"Uh..." He was obviously very uncomfortable, "...I-I don't know, ma'am. I'm only here in case my captain needs me." Something inside me stirred when he said that. It wasn't much, but it was enough. After all, every revolution begins with a spark.

Something is definitely happening to me. Ever since that stirring feeling I had at the dinner with Lwaxana (who, thankfully, is gone now), those feelings have become more frequent and possibly stronger. They're causing me to have strange thoughts. And they always occur when Hugh is around. Today, for example, when Hugh was bringing me a report. I saw him in his standard Command red uniform with Lieutenant's pips, and before I could stop myself, I thought He looks so adorable in that! I was still thinking about it when he left, and I was struck by a possibility. A laughable possibility.

Was I falling in love with a Borg?

It's been at least a week and the possibility isn't so laughable to me now. I was definitely feeling something for Hugh, and it was more than just the captain-crewman friendship I shared with all the officers. It was unnerving, because he was a Borg. But at the same time, it wasn't surprising. Aside from his species, there was nothing to not like about Hugh. In a way, Lwaxana was right. He was very childlike. He certainly looked it, with his soft features and pale white skin. And he was always thoughtful. Once, when Q showed up to bug us again, Hugh took one look at my face and gave Q a tongue lashing worthy of an angry parent with twins. Unsettled by the intense scolding, Q left quickly without playing even a single trick! Right then I stood up and hugged him. And that was what sealed my fate.

"I need your help, Guinan." I said.

"With what?" she said, "Did your office replicator break again."

"No, no, this is more serious than that. I...I'm in love with someone on the ship."

"Seriously?" I nodded. She leaned over the bar.

"Who is it?" I didn't trust myself to speak, so I wrote it on a napkin. Her eyes widened when she read it.

"Really?" I nodded.

"Doesn't know yet." I added.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because I don't know what to say. How to bring it up."

"Just say what's inside. For all you know, the feeling is mutual." Now that she mentioned it, Hugh HAD been acting strange, avoiding eye contact with me. "Don't worry about your words. It's your feelings that are the real message."

"You wanted to see me Captain?" Hugh was standing in my quarters, on time of course.

"We're off duty, Lieutenant. Call me Jean-Luc."

"Yes, Cap-uh, J-Jean-Luc." Bloody hell, my name sounded better in his voice than it did in mine or my parents' voices.

"At ease. Come, sit." Of course, he did.

"Is there a problem?" he asked in the sweet innocent way he always did

"No, Hugh, I...I am in love with someone on the ship."

"Is that not allowed?"

"No, it is." He raised his eyebrow.

"Then what is the problem, sir?"

"I don't know how to tell them, or how to even bring it up." I said.

"It is strange you should come to me and ask this, for I am in the same situation." I couldn't believe my good luck.

"Really? Why don't you tell me about them?"

"Oh, that's easy." Hugh said, "He's smart, he's brave and he cares deeply for others. Even if said others are...are Borg." Now he looked like he was fighting tears.

"What's wrong, Hugh?" I asked.

"He'll never want me. (sniff) He hates Borg."

"I'm sure he'll like you. Everyone does." He just nodded.

"What about you? Tell me about your person."

"Well," I began, "he's everything you said yours was. But he's also kind and loyal. Always there whenever someone needs him. Always willing to help anyone in need, even to comfort them. Like a light in a dark cade, he guides them out of their darkest hour." I couldn't believe it. Guinan was right. The words just flowed out of me.

"Wow." Hugh said, "I would love to meet him." He looked so sad, I couldn't keep him waiting.

"Hugh, you have met him. You do know him." I gently took the Borg's hands in mine and he looked up at me with the most adorable little sad face I had ever seen, "Hugh...you ARE him." It was now or never.

"I...I love you, Hugh." There. I did it! I really did it!

His eye went wide as he put everything together.

"So...all of those things you said...were about me?" I nodded.

"Yes, Hugh. I know, it seems odd, but..."

"No it doesn't, Jean-Luc. Love knows no race or species. I'm just happy you told me. Because...well...' He looked down, muttering to himself. "Oh, how do I say this?" The poor drone looked flustered, so I leaned over and hugged him close. Soon, I felt his smaller arms around me. And then I heart the five words I had been hoping to hear ever since that dinner with Lwaxana.

"I love you, too, Jean-Luc."